From simple and obvious to strategic and serious, I am sharing what I observe on LinkedIn whilst preparing for my first public speaking role of the yeat.
1. Profile Picture – it seems obvious to have it updated, but still, too many people keep using old images from 5-10 or even 15 years ago. Applying for jobs or sending connection requests with an old image is the opposite of building trust.
Other profile picture mistakes include:
- Being far away or sideways – do this only if you want to keep social distance from your contacts and build very formal relationships
- Busy backgrounds, such as furniture, mountains, etc. LinkedIn’s new trend is bold colours, you do not need to follow it and add something bright. But you can clear your background so the focus on the photo is on you (unless that busy background, or being far away, is part of your brand DNA)
- Sunglasses, no comments here; pretending to be cool this way was outdated 20 years ago
2. “Open to work” banner – this is a big NO from me. I’ll explain to you why. Potential employers or partners may view the individual as a last resort or someone with fewer options, even if this is not the case. What to do instead? Check that your settings are on to signal to recruiters that you are open for work.
3. Look at Me,…Me, Me, Me – posting only pictures of yourself is like sharing only what is interesting for you. First, people react, but then, everyone notices the pattern and less people continue supporting self-centeredness. What to do? Diversify you content, search for what other people are interested to know. Remember, LinkedIn is not Instagram; the image selection and your texts should be aimed at the LinkedIn audience.
4. Using AI for writing texts – as I do not wear fakes, the same way I do not read AI-generated content presented to me like a piece of advice from an expert. This has put me off from reading some really smart people. How do I spot these texts? Typical emojis and too many American English phrases from non-American users.
5. Using Linkedin, logging in, reading posts – but forgetting to comment or engage in some other ways with some of them. This is a huge mistake, as you spent time to login and to read others, and you do not contribute in creating conversations or supporting others. People fail to acknowledge something they read was interesting or useful with a simple like, becoming ghost readers.
The algorithm notices that, and reduces your visibility. So when you need to post something yourself…guess what happens with those who only want to get it without giving.